Shipping container



June l, 1965 A. H. MEIJERS SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed 0G13. l5, 1962 United States Patent O 3,186,620 .SItIIlIIl'tIG CONTAINER Antonie H. Meijers, Nederhorst den Berg, Netherlands,

assigner, by mesne assignments, to inland Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 1,5, 196,2, Ser. No. 239,617 Claims priority, applictizon GSi-many, Oct. 1S, 1961, 1

4 anims. (Ci. 22a- 5.7)

The present invention relates to shipping containers and more particularly, to an improved liquid-tight shipping container, and closure construction therefor, of the type wherein both the container body and the closure members are made of paperboard, liber, or similar nonmetallic materials; I

During recent years there has been an increasing demand for inexpensive nonmetallic containers which are suitable for use in storing and transporting diverse liquid or solid materials, yet which are capable of withstanding impacts occurringy during' handling of the containers. However, difliculties have been encountered in providing a liquid-tight closure construction for shipping containers of the type having both the container body and a closure or lid made, for exampleof paperboard, fiber, or the like. This problem has been particularly vexing where the container lid is removable. In 'an 'effort to provide a paperboard shipping container having liquid-tight integritythat is, a container characterized by its ability either to retain all of its liquid contents without leakage thereof, or to prevent ingress of contaminating liquids into the interior of a closed container-it has, heretofore, generally been necessary toresort to the use of a lid made of sheet metal which is secured 'to the nonmetallic container body by means of a locking ring. The use of such sheet metal lids has not, however, proven to be a satisfactory solution to the problem.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide an improved shipping container and closure construction therefor characterized by the factthat both the container body and the lid are made of paperboardor similar material, yet wherein an etfectiveliquid tight closure is obtained at the junction of the lid vand the container body.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a closure construction for shipping containers made of paperboard or the like, which construction not only permits the use of av removable paperboard lid, or lid made of similar material, but moreover, enhances the liquid-tight integrity of the container.

In another of its aspects,.it is an object of the invention to provide a shipping container and closure construction therefor wherein both the container body and the lid are made of paperboard, fiber, or similar materialyet wherein the `closure construction is characterized by' its ability to withstand impacts or other destructiveA forces applied thereto during usage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a Verticalaxial cross-sectional'view of a shipping container embodying the features of the present invention; f' e Y FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional-View of the upper edge portion of the container shown in FIG. l illustrating particularly the details' of an exemplary closure construction for use with containers employingV a removable lid made of paperboard or the like; n j

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View similar to FIG. 2 illustratingthe lower edge or seam porton of the container shown in FIG. 1; and,

. ICC

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 2 of slightly modified forms of closure constructions, also embodying the features of the present invention.

vWhile the invention is susceptible of various modificatons and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. l a shipping container 10 having a generally cylindrical container sidewall or body 11. In the exemplary form of the invention, the opposite ends of the container 10 are closed by a pair of disc shaped closure members 12, 14 which are dimensioned lto be received within the ends of the container. The closure members 12, 14 are respectively seated or bottomed on a pair of radially inwardly extending circumferential ribs 15', 16 formed in the container body 11. The ribs 15, 16 are spaced axially inward of the respective ends of the container, thus recessing the closure members 12, 14 relative to the container ends.

As the ensuing description proceeds, it will become arpparent that the container body 11 and the closure members 12, 14 can be made of a widevariety of nonmetallic fibrous materials such for example, as paperboard, liber, or other natural or synthetic materials. However, the invention will herein be descrbed in connection with a container employing components made of paperboard, it being understood that other similar materials may also be used if desired.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the container 10 is provided with a liner orliquid-tight coating 18 which is contiguous and coextensive with the inner surface of the container body 11, and which renders the container body impervious to the passage of liqiuds therethrough. The exemplary closure member 12, or container bottom, is provided with inner and outer layers 19, 20 respectively which protrude or extendbeyond the periphery of the paperboard bottom.12. The arrangement is such that when the bottoni 12 is inserted into the end of the container 10 and seated on the circumferential rib 15, .the protruding edges of the layers 19, 2t! are bent downwardly parallel to the container body 11 with the layer 19 being contiguous with the liquid-tight coating 18.

In order to secure the bottom 12 to the container body 11 while simultaneously reinforcing the latter, there is provided a metal reinforcing ring 21 which surrounds the lower end of the container body; Thus, it is simply necessary to curl or roll the downwardly projecting edges of the ring 21, body 11, coating 1S and layers 19, 20 together in a manner knownto those skilled in the art so as to form a substantially rigid folded Vseam 22 which securely locks the bottom closure 12 in place and presses the layer 19 into sealing contact with the liquid-tight layer the form'of a thin sheet of plastic or the like. Alternatively, the layer 19 might simply be a thin vsheet of paper upon which is sprayed, painted or votherwise deposited, a suitable liquid-tight coating. In either instance, the formation of the bottom seam 22 will tend to urge the liquidery ofthe paperboard lid 14. When the lid 14 is inserted into fthev upper end of the container and snugly seated therein on the circumferential ribt16, the protruding edges of the layers 24, are bent upwardly parallelto the:

container body 11 with the layer 24 being contiguous with the liquid-tight coating 18.' Of course, it will be appreciated ythatthev layer 24 will reither constitute or include a that the nection with the bottom closure shown in FIG. 3. 'When the lid 14 and press-ring 26,' vassembly is inserted into the upper end of the container,it is simply necessary vto contract the closing ring 28 v(either yby turning the portion 29 inwardly as shown in FIG. 4, or Vbytightening suitable clamping'means, not shown, `in the event thatfthe ring Y28 is a splitV ring) .tolestablish an effective liquid-tight closure. When the ring 28 is contracted, the vcontainer body 11 and coating 18 are radially compressed between thewebs of the, rings 28and 26 At the same time, the

t liquid-tight layer 24 is beingcompressed between the liquid-tight coating in a manner similar to that described for layer r19. Y j

In accordance with one ofv the important` aspects of the present invention, there is provided a novel closurev construction for securely locking the lid 14 in place while kat the same time establishing an effective liquid-tight seal at the junction of the lid 14 and the container body 11. In the illustrative form ofthe invention shown invFIG; 2,

this is accomplished by providing a pair of metallic rings,l

26, 28 which are utilized to intimately press the upper ends of the container body 11, coating 18, and layers 24, 25 together in a radial direction, while simultaneously urging the lid 14 and its liquid-tight layer 24 axially into intimate sealing contact with the coating 18 adjacent the In'carrying out'the present invention, the two metallic rings 26,28 are generally U-shaped in cross-section with the ring 28 encompassing ring 26 and with the latter ring 26 dening a press ring positioned on the outer side of the lid 14 and within the upwardly projecting ends of the container body 11', coating 18, and upwardly bent portionsof layers 24, 25. `The ring 28 is preferably a continuous closing ring having a portion 29v adapted to be turned inwardly-however, it may take the form of a split ring having an inwardly projecting ange similar to the portion 29 and suitable clamping means (not shown) for contracting the ring. In either case, when the Vportion l 29 of the ring 28'is turned inwardly or when the clamping means associated with a splitring is tightened, the upwardly projecting portionsV of the container body 11,V

`coating 18 and lidV layers 24, 25 are subjected to radial compressive forces between the webs of the rings 26, 28, thus providing a liquid-tight closure.

tainer'body 11 are kalso subjected to axial compressive Y Y Moreover, at the j Y Vsanletime the lid 14, coating 24, coating18, and con. here shown, the lid 14 comprises'a lamination of a plu- `forces inthe vicinity of rib 16, thereby tending to enhance the liquid-tight seal obtained.

It will also be noted that the ring 28 is provided with 'a downwardly extending portion 30 which surrounds the upper end of the container 10. Thus, the ring 28 with its radial and axial extensions 2 9, 30 serves to reinforce thel upper end ofthe containenthereby protecting the container end from damage'due to-rough handling or the Referring'to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a slightly modiiedform of closure assembly which is somewhat similar in construction` to the arrangement described aboveand also embodying the present invention. In view of the similarity between the two exemplary closure assemblies of the ,inventionplike' parts in both assemblies will` be designated by identical reference numerals and Ythose parts'not common to the two assemblies will be'designated lished by curling one legrof the ring 26 and the protruding marginal edges of layers 24, 2S to form a seam `31 in much'the, same manner as previously described in con-V connection between the ring 26 and the lid 14 is e-staby lid 16 andthe ring 26. And, ofcourse, thefring 26' (like the ring 26 showninFIGZ) serves` asv a-press-ring to simultaneously establish axial compressive forces at the junction of the lidr`14 and vthe container `body 11.

In order to further,.enhance l'the liquid-tight integrity of paperboardcontainers embodying ythe present invention, oneo'r more circumferential, radially projecting, annular'ribs 32y (FIG.V 4) are formed in the lweb of the press-ring 26. Such ribs tend 'to' be pressedinto the con-` tainerbody-when` .the ring 2S is'k contracted, thereby establishing ahigher specic pressure atleast over a narrow contact surface between the container body and the closure components. Of' course, while such ribs have not been illustrated inthe form ofthe Vinvention :shown in FIGIZ, it will be understood that kthe `web of the ring 26 could be provided with annular ribs having van` outwardly bentangular or'arcuate cross-section, while the web of the ring 28 .couldbe provided withsimilar opposing ribs bent inwardly.

A For the purpose ofI insuring that liquid-tight closure assemblies embodying the; present inventionare substantially unaffected by shocks or blows occurring in the upper edge `region of the container during transport, provision may be madefor relieving the ring 28 Yfrom `the high closingforcesl required to perfect aliquid-tight seal. To this end, andas shown in FIG.4,`an additional ring 34 is provided in surrounding relationship tothe upper end of the container bodyV 11 and underlying the ring 28. In thisV form-,ofthe invention, the ring 34 servesI to provide the requisite closing forces, while the ring 28 serves to protect and reinforce `the upper endY Vofthe container. And, Yof course, the ring 28 and its flange 29 also serve to hold theilid 14` snugly againstthef seat defined by rib 16.

Turning next to FIG. 5, there is shown a slightly modied closure assembly 'also embodying thel presentrinvem tion and which'is'particularlysuitable for use with containers that are or maybe subjected to Yrough handling. As

rality of plies 14a of vpaper or the like which are secured inner and outerk layers 24,525, the protruding Yperipheral edges of which are curled .togetherk with Va pressring 26 in a manner similar to that described in connection with IFIGQ 4.' The lid 14 is received within'theupperend of the container body 11 and its liquid-tight coatingjlS, the container body here having a circumferential rib 16 dening an annularradial seat ortshoulder 35. A separate metallic reinforcingband is mounted on the outer surface of the upper end of y.the container.l In this form ofthe invention, 'a liquid-tight closure is obtained by compressing the marginal edges of the coatings 24, 25 between theV pressuring 26A` andthe lid 14" whilesimultaneously compressing the container body 11 and lits coating 18 betweentheprefssering26 andan encompassing closingY ring 28having a U-shaped cross-section.

' As soY far described, the closure assembly shown in FIGS Y,is substantially like` that shown in FIG. 4.V The twoclosure assemblies dilfer primarily inthat Va resilient 'washer 438u-TIG.V 5) made, furk example, of rubber, is

Thus, a resilient container closure assembly is established which will withstand impacts and rough handling better than heretofore possible.

While the present invention has been described in connection with lids made of paperboard or the like and having a liquid-tight coating applied thereto, it will be appreciated that other arrangements could be employed and still fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Merely by way of example, rather than applying a liquidtight coating to the inner surface of the lid, a thin foil of synthetic liquid-tight material covering the entire inner surface of the lid and having a marginal edge portion extending into the clamping area between the lid and the container body could 'be provided when closing the container. Such a construction would be particularly advantageous in an arrangement where the press-ring is permanently secured to the lid (as lshown in FIG. 4) and Where it is desired to prevent direct contact ofthe container contents with the metallic press-ring.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a container body made of fibrous material such as paperboard, a removable lid made of similar material, a layer of liquid-tight sheet material formed on a surface of said lid, said layer having a marginal edge portion protruding radially beyond the periphery of said lid and adapted to be bent outwardly into a position adjacent the inner surface of said body upon insertion of said lid into said body, a first ring surrounding the upper edge of said body, a second ring disposed inwardly of said first ring, said body and said marginal edge portion, one of said rings comprising a closing ring, and means for tightening said closing ring whereupon said body and said marginal edge portion are pressed together.

2. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a container body made of brous material such as paperboard, a removable lid made of similar material, a liquidtight coating formed on the inner surface of said lid, said coating having a marginal edge portion protruding radially beyond the periphery of said lid and adapted to be bent outwardly between said body and said lid, an inwardly extending circumferential rib formed on said body and defining a seat for said lid, a first ring surrounding the upper edge of said body, a second ring disposed inwardly of said body, said rst ring, and said marginal edge portion, one of said rings comprising a closing ring, and means for tightening said closing ring so that said body and said marginal edge portion are pressed together between said rings and inwardly toward said lid while said lid and said coating are pressed into intimate engagement with said seat.

3. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a container body made of librous material such as paperboard, a removable lid made of similar material, a liquidtight coating applied to the inner surface of each of said body and said lid with the coating applied to said lid having a peripheral marginal edge portion protruding radially beyond the edge of said lid and adapted to be bent outwardly between said body and said lid, a first ring surrounding the upper edge of said body, a second ring disposed inwardly of said first ring, said body and the coating applied thereto, and said marginal edge portion, one of said rings comprising a closing ring, and means for tightening said closing ring whereupon said body and both of said coatings are pressed together between said rings and simultaneously pressed inwardly towards said lid.

4. A yshipping container comprising, in combination, a container body made of brous material such as paperboard, a removable lid made of similar material, a liquidtight coating applied to the inner surface of each of said body and said lid with the coating applied to said lid having a peripheral marginal edge portion protruding radially beyond the edge of said lid and adapted to be bent outwardly between `said body and said lid, an inwardly extending circumferential rib formed on said body and delining a seat for said lid, and means for pressing said body and each of said coatings together and inwardly towards said lid and ysimultaneously pressing said lid and its Coating firmly against said seat to form a liquid-tight closure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,018,595 10/ 35 Blair 217--44 2,307,923 1/43 Eggerss 229-5.7 2,651,432 9/53 McConnell 217--44 2,696,340 12/53 Bergstrom 229-53 2,727,673 12/ 55 Bergstrom 229-55 2,810,505 10/57 Kinna 229-5.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 884,130 12/ 61 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner, 

1. A SHIPPING CONTAINER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER BODY MADE OF FIBROUS MATERIAL SUCH AS PAPERBOARD, A REMOVABLE LID MADE OF SIMILAR MATERIAL, A LAYER OF LIQUID-TIGHT SHEET MATERIAL FORMED ON A SURFACE OF SAID LID, SAID LAYER HAVING A MARGINAL EDGE PORTION PROTRUDING RADIALLY BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID LID AND ADAPTED TO BE BENT OUTWARDLY INTO A POSITION ADJACENT THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BODY INSERTION OF SAID LID INTO SAID BODY, A FIRST RING SURROUNDING THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID BODY, A SECOND RING DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID FIRST RING, SAID BODY AND SAID MARGINAL EDGE PORTION, ONE OF SAID RINGS COMPRISING A CLOSING RING, AND MEANS FOR TIGHTENING SAID CLOSING RING WHEREUPON SAID BODY AND SAID MARGINAL EDGE PORTION ARE PRESSED TOGETHER. 